A promising Fijian rugby player, Maikeli Ledua died after the crash between a truck and car on State Highway 56 at Opiki, west of Palmerston North.
He had recently made an impressive debut at the Central Region Sevens tournament.
Ledua's father also suffered critical injuries in the crash and was taken to Palmerston North Hospital, and he is in stable condition.
A family spokesman said Ledua and his father were driving back from Wellington Airport, after dropping off family members who were flying to Fiji for a holiday, when the crash happened.
Manawatu sevens co‑coach Koli Sewabu says he thought of Ledua as a younger brother, so news of the crash had been tough to handle.
He says it had been a really tough few days for the team but it has hit him hard on a personal level.
The serious crash unit is still investigating the cause of the crash.
Source:Stuff. Co
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